New
New
Year 10
AQA

The Black Death

I can evaluate the reasons why the Black Death was so deadly.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

The Black Death

I can evaluate the reasons why the Black Death was so deadly.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The actual cause of the Black Death was not understood at the time.
  2. One-third of Britain's population was killed by the Black Death.
  3. Many people believed the Black Death was a punishment from God.
  4. Medieval treatments were ineffective against the plague.
  5. Some people avoided plague by reducing contact with those who were infected.

Keywords

  • Epidemic - when a large number of people get the same disease over the same period of time

  • Bacteria - a type of germ which sometimes causes disease

  • Divine - related to God

  • Quarantine - when people are kept away from others because they have, or might have, a disease

Common misconception

There were no effective responses to the Black Death.

No effective treatments existed in the medieval period but some preventative methods, such as quarantines, could help protect people from plague.


To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The Black Death, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Get pupils to discuss the following in pairs or small groups: 'which aspect of medieval medicine does the Black Death suggest was most well-developed: explanations for disease, treatments or methods of prevention?'.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a large underground hole that is used for collecting human waste known as?
Correct Answer: cesspit, a cesspit
Q2.
Nuns and lived in monasteries.
Correct Answer: monks, monk
Q3.
What punishment did Parliament introduce in 1388 for people who dumped waste in ponds and streams?
death penalty
Correct answer: fine of £20
prison sentence
Q4.
Why did dirty streets and rivers concern medieval authorities?
worried about the spread of germs
Correct answer: worried about bad smells creating miasma
worried about pollution affecting wildlife
Q5.
Why were town authorities reluctant to build more public privies?
believed there was no need for them
Correct answer: to avoid raising taxes
towns lacked skill workers who could build privies
Q6.
Why was the remote location of monasteries good for public health there?
Correct answer: sparse populations make it harder for diseases to spread
sparse populations meant that more privies were built
sparse populations meant that the air was fresher

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
How much of Britain's population died during the Black Death?
one-fifth
one-quarter
Correct answer: one-third
one-half
Q2.
What is a situation where a large number of people get the same disease over the same period of time known as?
Correct Answer: epidemic, an epidemic
Q3.
A involves people being kept away from others because they have or might have a disease.
Correct Answer: quarantine
Q4.
What did most scholars claim caused the Black Death?
bacteria
God
miasma
Correct answer: planets
Q5.
For each explanation used to say what caused the Black Death, identify the medical response it encouraged.
Correct Answer:Four Humours,bloodletting

bloodletting

Correct Answer:God,flagellation

flagellation

Correct Answer:miasma,street cleaning

street cleaning

Q6.
Which statement is most accurate?
There were no effective responses to the Black Death.
Bloodletting was an effective treatment for the Black Death.
Mercury was an effective treatment for the Black Death.
Correct answer: Quarantines could be an effective way of preventing the Black Death's spread.
Flagellation could be an effective way of preventing the Black Death's spread.

Additional material

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